Galactic Battle Game

ABSTRACT

The Galactic Battle Strategy Game is a board game for two, three or four players. Each player has fourteen game pieces comprising eight Droids, and one each Andromeda, Pegasus, Pollux, Castor, Mars and Mercury. Each playing piece has its own unique moves. The playing surface of the game varies as to whether two, three or four players are competing. However, the movement rules for the game pieces is consistent regardless of the number of players. The object of the game is to capture the opponent&#39;s Andromeda piece or move the Andromeda piece or a Droid piece into their opponents Halo zone, which is a specific location on the game playing surface. The game is simple to learn yet complex to master.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not made by an agency of the United States Governmentnor under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.

THE NAME OF THE PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to strategy board game that can beplayed by two, three or four players. A different game board is utilizeddepending upon the number of players, but the number of playing piecesand the rules of movement of the pieces is consistent regardless of thenumber of players.

Strategy board games have been played for thousands of years, the oldestof these being the games Go, Checkers and Chess. The game of Go isbelieved to have originated over 2500 years ago in China. Checkers, alsoknown as Draughts, has also been played for thousands of years, withcheckerboard and their game pieces found in ancient Egyptian burialchambers.

The game of Chess is believed to have originated in 6th century India.The game spread westward over the subsequent centuries and had spreadthroughout Europe by the end of the 10th century. Rules of the gamechanged as the game migrated geographically, in the latter part of the15th century several changes were made to the game to make itessentially the game we know today.

There are many strategy games available to potential players today,including the three ancient games noted above. Additional games thathave been played for centuries include Mahjong, Dominoes and Backgammon,which introduces an element of chance in the form of rolling dice.Modern games include the popular board games Risk (invented in the1950s) and Settlers of Catan (published in 1995).

Description of Related Art

There are many different strategy board games. Some of these games havebeen played in essentially their current form for centuries, such asChess, Go and Checkers. Other games are relatively new such as the boardgame Risk, which was invented in the 1950s, and Settlers of Catan, whichwas first published in 1995. There are also variations of one of theancient games, such as Three-Dimensional Chess (U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,099)and Backgammon Board Game for Three Players (U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,221).

There are many variations on the game of Chess. One variation is gamesfor more than 2 players, such as Methods for Playing Variations of Chess(U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,165) and Chess Game for Multiple Players (U.S. Pat.No. 6,416,056). Other variations introduce new game pieces, such as LeoChess (U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,261) and Chess Game and Method (U.S. Pat. No.6,446,966) or increase or decrease the number of Chess game pieces, suchas Game Set, Including Board and Chessmen and Related Methods andProducts (U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,632) and Chess Game (U.S. Pat. No.6,550,770).

Some variations include modification of the game board includingdiffering sized rectangles, Chess Game (U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,770) andChess Game and Method (U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,966); circles, Circular ChessSystem (U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,123) and Circular Chess Game Board (U.S.Pat. No. 4,991,856); and other geometric shapes, Logical Board Game andGame of Chance on a Star Shaped Board (U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,279), ChessGame and Method of Play (U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,184) and Game Board forChess, Checkers and the Like (U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,193).

The present invention is a strategy game that can be played by two,three or four players with game pieces with unique movements played onvarious shaped game playing surfaces. The two person game is played on adecagon shaped game playing surface. The three person game is played ona nonagon shaped game playing surface and the four person game is playedon a uniquely four pointed star shaped game playing surface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described in this application is a strategy board game fortwo, three or four players on specifically designed game playingsurfaces. The two player game is played on a decagon shaped game playingsurface. The three player game is played on a nonagon shaped gameplaying surface and the four player game is played on a uniquely 4pointed star shaped game playing surface. A two player game mayalternatively be played on a diamond shaped game playing surface whichwas designed for faster game play.

Each version of the game, whether two, three, or four players, is playedwith the same set of game pieces which each have their own unique rulesfor movement. Each player has fourteen game pieces comprised of sevendifferent pieces.

The objective of the game is to capture your opponent's Andromeda gamepiece or to land your Droid or Andromeda game piece in the playing areadesignated as the opponent's halo.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view of the two player game playing surface (10) showing theHalo area (11) for each player and the landing spaces (12) which are atthe intersection of the lines (13) marked on the game board.

FIG. 2 is a view of the two player fast play game playing surface (20)showing the Halo area (21) for each player and the landing spaces (22)which are at the intersection of the lines (23) marked on the gameboard.

FIG. 3 is a view of the three player game playing surface (30) showingthe Halo area (31) for each player and the landing spaces (32) which areat the intersection of the lines (33) marked on the game board.

FIG. 4 is a view of the four player game playing surface (40) showingthe Halo area (41) for each player and the landing spaces (42) which areat the intersection of the lines (43) marked on the game board.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the game piece Andromeda (50).

FIG. 6 is a front view of the game piece Pegasus (60).

FIG. 7 is a front view of the game piece Mars (70).

FIG. 8 is a front view of the game piece Mercury (80).

FIG. 9 is a front view of the game piece Castor (90).

FIG. 10 is a front view of the game piece Pollux (100).

FIG. 11 is a front view of the game piece Droid (110).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention addressed in this application is a strategy game for two,three or four players. The two player embodiment is played on a decagonshaped game playing surface (10). The three player game is played on anonagon shaped game playing surface (30) and the four person game isplayed on a unique four pointed star shaped game playing surface (40).The fast play embodiment for two players is played on a diamond shapedplaying surface (20).

Each player has fourteen game pieces; one each of Andromeda (50),Pegasus (60), Mars (70), Mercury (80), Castor (90) and Pollux (100) andeight Droids (110). Each game piece has its own rules of movement andcapture of opposing pieces. The game pieces are moved across the boardto the landing spaces (12, 22, 32, 42) defined at the intersection ofthe lines of the game board. The landing spaces (12, 22, 32, 42) on thegame playing surfaces are designated by small circles at theintersection of the lines (13, 23, 33, 42) which transverse the gameplaying surfaces. Each landing space (12. 22. 32, 42) is individuallynumbered to allow recording of a game.

The Andromeda (50) game piece can move one landing space in anydirection along a line. Andromeda (50) cannot capture an opponent's gamepiece.

The Pegasus (60) game piece can move two landing spaces in any directionalong a line. Pegasus (60) captures an opposing piece by moving to thelanding space occupied by the opposing game piece. The Pegasus (60) gamepiece is the only piece that can jump over a friendly or opponent piece.The Pegasus (60) game piece also has a special move referred to as aReturn Move. In this maneuver, the Pegasus (60) moves one space in anydirection into an unoccupied landing space and then returns to itsstarting point. The player must announce the move prior to execution.

The Mars (70) game piece can move any number of landing spaces eitherforward or backward along a diagonal line. Mars (70) captures anopposing piece by moving to the landing space occupied by the opposinggame piece.

The Mercury (80) game piece can move any number of landing spaces eitherforward or backward along a horizontal or vertical line, but not adiagonal line. Mercury (80) captures an opposing piece by moving to thelanding space occupied by the opposing game piece.

The Castor (90) and Pollux (100) game pieces, collectively referred toas the Gemini Twins are able to move any number of landing spaces in anydirection along a line. The Gemini Twins capture an opposing piece bymoving to the landing space occupied by the opposing game piece.

Each player has eight Droid (110) game pieces. The Droid (110) piecemoves only one landing space in any direction along a line. The Droidcan capture an opponent's game piece on a forward diagonal move bymoving onto the landing space occupied by the opposing game piece. Thefirst move by a Droid (110) in game play may be two landing spaces inany direction, but thereafter the Droid (110) is limited to moving onlyone landing space at a time.

The Droid (110) and Andromeda (50) game pieces are the only game piecesallowed to enter an opponent's Halo zone (11, 21, 31, 41), with suchmove ending the game. The player whose Droid (110) or Andromeda (50)entered the opponent's Halo zone is victorious over that player. Thenumber of paths or lines (13, 23, 33, 43) that lead to the Halo zone(11, 21, 31, 41) is typically six. However, variations of the gameplaying surfaces may have between two to six paths into the Halo zone(11, 21, 31, 41), with the fewer paths rendering the game moredifficult.

Although the two, three and four player games are played on differentgame playing surfaces (10, 20, 30 and 40), the game pieces are movedunder the same rules regardless of the number of players.

The preferred embodiment of the game is the two player game played onthe game playing surface (10) shown in FIG. 1. The two player gameplaying surface (10) is in the shape of a decagon with lines (13)traversing the board in horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions.The intersection of the lines (13) form landing spaces (12) marked bysmall numbered circles where the game pieces are placed during play ofthe game. Two larger circles are positioned at opposite ends of the gameplaying surface and are designated as the Halo zone (11) for eachplayer.

Each player begins the game with fourteen game pieces; one each ofAndromeda, Pegasus, Mars, Mercury and Castor and Pollux and eight Droidpieces, with each set of game pieces being a different color. The eightDroid pieces are placed in the landing spaces in the second row (14)from the Halo zone (11). The remaining pieces are place in the order ofthe players choosing along the first row (15) from the Halo zone (11),the order of placement adding to the overall strategy play of the game.

The players take turns moving their game pieces and blocking orcapturing the opponent's pieces until either a player's Andromeda (50)is captured or an Andromeda (50) or Droid (110) enter the opponent'sHalo zone (11). The player who captures their opponent's Andromeda (50)or enter the opponent's Halo zone (11) is the victor. The game may alsoend in a Draw if all/both players agree or if all/both players each makeconsecutive Pegasus (60) Return Moves. A return move is usedstrategically for the purpose of tempo of the game. A Pegasus (60)Return Move occurs when Pegasus (60) is moved to an unoccupied landingspace and returns to its original position in one move without capturingan opponent.

Another version of the two player game is played utilizing the diamondshaped game playing surface (20) shown in FIG. 2. Lines (23) transversethe game playing surface in horizontal and diagonal lines. Theintersection of these lines (23) form the landing spaces (22) which aremarked by small numbered circles and on which the game pieces are placedduring game play. Two larger circles are positioned at opposite ends ofthe game playing surface and are designated as the Halo zone (21) foreach player.

In this version of the game, a timing clock is used to time the playersmoves. Each player is limited to a set time frame of game play in whichthey must make at least thirty moves. Failure to complete thirty moveswithin the allotted time results in forfeiture of the game. The allottedtime is agreed upon by the players but is typically envisioned asfifteen minutes. If each player completes thirty moves within theallotted time frame, then play continues until one player captures theopponent's Andromeda (50) or moves a Droid (110) or Andromeda (50) intothe opponent's Halo zone (21).

As with the preferred embodiment of the two player game, each playerstarts the game with fourteen game pieces; one each of the Andromeda(50), Pegasus (60), Mars (70), Mercury (80), Castor (90) and Pollux(100) and eight Droids (110). The eight Droids (110) are positioned onthe lines with three and five landing spaces (24) with the remain piecesplaced on lines with two and four landing spaces (25) in the order ofthe player's choosing.

The three player game utilizes the nonagon shaped game playing surface(30) shown in FIG. 3. Lines (33) transverse the board in horizontal anddiagonal directions. The intersection of the lines (33) form landingspaces (32) marked by small numbered circles where the game pieces areplaced during play of the game. Three larger circles are positioned onnon-adjacent sides of the game playing surface and are designated as theHalo zone (31) for each player.

As with the two player game, each player starts with fourteen gamepieces; one each of the Andromeda (50), Pegasus (60), Mars (70), Mercury(80), Castor (90) and Pollux (100) and eight Droids (110). The eightDroids (110) are positioned in the landing spaces on the second line(34) from the player's Halo zone (31) and the remaining pieces areplaced in the order of the player's choosing on the first line (35) fromthe player's Halo (31).

Play proceeds using the same rules as for the two player game. However,when one player captures another player's Andromeda (50) or moves theirown Andromeda (50) or Droid (110) into another player's Halo zone (31),he incorporates the defeated opposing player's game pieces into his ownforces excepting the defeated player's Andromeda (50) which is removedfrom game play. For example, in a three player game between Red, Blueand Green, if Red captures Blue's Andromeda (50) or moves Red'sAndromeda (50) or a Red Droid (50) into Blue's Halo (31), then Red hasdefeated Blue and removes Blue's Andromeda (50) from play. Red thentakes over play of Blue's remaining game pieces and turns the combinedforces against Green. However, if Red defeated Blue by moving a RedDroid (110) into Blue's Halo (31), then the Red Droid (110) must remainin Blue's Halo (31) for the remainder of the game.

The four player game utilizes the game playing surface (40) shown inFIG. 4. The game playing surface an irregular diamond shape or fourpointed star shape. Curved lines (43) transverse the board in horizontaland vertical directions. The intersection of the lines (43) form landingspaces (42) marked by small numbered circles where the game pieces areplaced during play of the game. Four larger circles are positioned atopposite ends of the game playing surface and are designated as the Halozone (41) for each player.

As with the two and three player games, each player starts with fourteengame pieces; one each of the Andromeda (50), Pegasus (60), Mars (70),Mercury (80), Castor (90) and Pollux (100) and eight Droids (110). Theeight Droids are positioned in the landing spaces on the second line(44) from the player's Halo zone (41) and the remaining pieces areplaced in the order of the player's choosing on the first line (45) fromthe player's Halo (41).

In the four player game, the players may play as individuals against theother three players or play in two person teams. In team play, the teammembers may be either opposite or adjacent to each other on the gameboard.

Play proceeds using the same rules as for the two and three playergames. As with the three player game when one player captures anotherplayer's Andromeda (50) or moves their own Andromeda (50) or Droid (110)into another player's Halo zone (31), the conquering playingincorporates the defeated player's game pieces into the conqueringplayer's forces excepting the defeated player's Andromeda (50) which isremoved from game play.

For example, in a four player game between Red, Blue, Yellow and Green,where each player is playing individually with no team play, if Redcaptures Blue's Andromeda (50) or moves Red's Andromeda (50) or a RedDroid (50) into Blue's Halo (41), then Red has defeated Blue and removesBlue's Andromeda (50) from play. Red then takes over play of Blue'sremaining game pieces and turns the combined forces against Green andYellow. If Red defeated Blue by moving a Red Droid (110) into Blue'sHalo (41), then the Red Droid (110) must remain in Blue's Halo (41) forthe remainder of the game.

In team play, the combination of game pieces in the event of the defeatof one player is the same as for individual play. For example, in a fourplayer game where Red and Green are playing as a team against the teamcomprised of Blue and Yellow, if Red captures Blue's Andromeda (50) ormoves Red's Andromeda (50) or a Red Droid (50) into Blue's Halo (41),then Blue is defeated and must remove the Blue Andromeda (50) from play.Red and Green take over the remaining Blue pieces and move the combinedRed, Green and Blue forces against Yellow. As with the three player orindividual four player game, if Red defeats Blue by moving a Red Droid(110) into Blue's Halo (41), the then Red Droid (110) must remain inBlue's Halo (41) for the remainder of the game.

In all forms of the game, (two, three or four player), if game play mustbe abandoned prior to one player or team conquering their opponent's,then a point system may be used to determine the winner. Each player orteam calculates the points the team has scored based on the number andtype of game pieces captured. The player or team with the most pointswins. The game pieces have the following point value: Pollux is worthten points, Castor is worth eight points, Droids are worth one pointeach and Mars, Pegasus and Mercury are each worth four points.

Potential patent classifications for this invention include Class 273Amusement Devices: Games with Subclasses 260 Chess or Checker Type, 261Nonrectangular or extended pattern and 262 Military or Naval engagement.

The playing boards as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through4, although shown in black and white, is visualized to be in a varietyof colors. Similarly, the game piece sets would be in various colors,such as black, white, red, blue, green, or yellow with each piece in aset being the same color as the other pieces in the set. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and detailsmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentapplication.

Although each playing piece type is provided with a name in thedescription of game pieces, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that changes in names of the playing pieces may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the present application. Forexample, the Andromeda (50) piece could alternatively be called theEmpress.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the specification andrelevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions orconstructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A board game apparatus for two, three orfour players including a plurality of game playing boards specific fortwo, three or four players, where the game playing boards are decagon,diamond, nonagon and four pointed star shaped and are traversed byhorizontal, vertical or diagonal lines the intersection of which definethe location of the landing spaces for the game pieces which are furtherindicated by small numbered circles, where the game playing boards havea number of larger circles corresponding to the number of playerslocated on the game board and designated as the Halo zone, and fourteengame pieces for each player where the fourteen game pieces are comprisedof one each Andromeda, Pegasus, Mars, Mercury, Castor and Pollux andeight Droids.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled) 6.(canceled)
 7. A board game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein thegame playing pieces are in a different color for each player.
 8. A boardgame apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the game playing pieceshave other designated names than those provided.
 9. A method of playinga strategy board game for two, three or four players in opposition toeach other, comprising the steps of: (a) providing game boards that aredecagon, nonagon or four pointed star shaped and are-traversed byhorizontal, vertical or diagonal lines the intersection of which definethe location of the landing spaces for the game pieces which are furtherindicated by small numbered circles and where the game playing boardshave a number of larger circles corresponding to the number of playerslocated on the game board and designated as the Halo zone; (b) providingeach player with fourteen game pieces where the fourteen game pieces arecomprised of one each Andromeda, Pegasus, Mars, Mercury, Castor andPollux and eight Droids; (c) positioning the player's fourteen gamepieces on the playing board in the rows of landing spaces in front ofsaid players Halo zone; (d) formatting the rules of movement for play,wherein: the Andromeda game piece moves one landing space in anydirection, the Pegasus game piece moves two landing spaces in anydirection and may jump over any other game piece including theopponent's, the Mars game piece moves any number of landing spaces alonga diagonal line, the Mercury game piece moves any number of landingspaces along a horizontal or vertical line, the Castor game piece movesany number of landing spaces in any direction along a line, the Polluxgame piece moves any number of landing spaces in any direction along aline and the Droid game pieces moves one landing space in any direction;(e) formatting rules of capture of opponents' game pieces wherein: theAndromeda game piece cannot capture an opposing game piece, the Pegasus,Mars, Mercury, Castor and Pollux game pieces capture an opposing pieceby moving to the landing space occupied by the opposing game piece andthe Droid game pieces capture an opposing game piece on a forwarddiagonal move into the landing space occupied by the opposing gamepiece; and (f) wherein the objective of the game is movement of aplayer's Andromeda or Droid game piece into their opponent's Halo zone.10. A method of playing a strategy board game for two players inopposition to each other, comprising the steps of: (a) providing adiamond shaped game board that is traversed by horizontal, vertical ordiagonal lines the intersection of which define the location of thelanding spaces for the game pieces which are further indicated by smallnumbered circles and where the game playing board has two larger circlesdesignated as the Halo zone; (b) providing each player with fourteengame pieces where the fourteen game pieces are comprised of one eachAndromeda, Pegasus, Mars, Mercury, Castor and Pollux and eight Droids;(c) positioning the player's fourteen game pieces on the playing boardin the rows of landing spaces in front of said players Halo zone; (d)formatting the rules of movement for play, wherein: the Andromeda gamepiece moves one landing space in any direction, the Pegasus game piecemoves two landing spaces in any direction and may jump over any othergame piece including the opponents, the Mars game piece moves any numberof landing spaces along a diagonal line, the Mercury game piece movesany number of landing spaces along a horizontal or vertical line, theCastor game piece moves any number of landing spaces in any directionalong a line, the Pollux game piece moves any number of landing spacesin any direction along a line and the Droid game pieces moves onelanding space in any direction; (e) formatting rules of capture ofopponents' game pieces wherein: the Andromeda game piece cannot capturean opposing game piece, the Pegasus, Mars, Mercury, Castor and Polluxgame pieces capture an opposing piece by moving to the landing spaceoccupied by the opposing game piece and the Droid game pieces capture anopposing game piece on a forward diagonal move into the landing spaceoccupied by the opposing game piece; (f) wherein the objective of thegame is movement of a player's Andromeda or Droid game piece into theiropponent's Halo zone; and (g) formatting rules of the game wherein eachplayer must make thirty moves within an agreed upon time or forfeit thegame.